Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill
The Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill is a proposed legislation in the UK that aims to end the live exports of animals from Great Britain for slaughter or fattening. The bill was proposed on November 7, 2023.
No animals have been exported for slaughter from Great Britain since it was announced the Government's intention to bring forward a ban in 2021.[1] If passed this bill will make the export of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses for slaughter and fattening permanent.[2]
The bill will still allow live animal exports for other circumstances, such as breeding and competitions, provided they meet legal requirements aimed at protecting animal welfare.[1]
The bill comes after the UK Government’s 2020 consultation on ending live animal exports revealed that 87% of respondents agreed that livestock and horses should not be exported for slaughter and fattening.[1] Long journey times pose welfare risks such as stress, exhaustion, and injury. For instance, journeys of unweaned calves from the UK for fattening in Spain were found to last on average 60 hours and often even longer.[1] The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals supports the idea that animals should be slaughtered as close to the place where they are reared as possible, advocating for a carcass-only export trade.[1]
The UK Government’s previous attempt to impose an export ban as part of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill was scrapped earlier in 2023.
The bill was introduced into Parliament on December 4, 2023.[3]
See also
External links
- ANIMAL WELFARE (LIVESTOCK EXPORTS) BILL Memorandum from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee parliament.uk
- The King's Speech 2023 Prime Minister's Office
- ANIMAL WELFARE (LIVESTOCK EXPORTS) BILL ANNOUNCED Compassion in World Farming
- Live exports of livestock to be banned under planned new law The Independent
- Press release - New legislation set to ban live animal exports gov.uk
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 The King's Speech 2023 Prime Minister's Office
- ↑ Export of livestock for slaughter or fattening to be banned under new law The Independent
- ↑ New legislation set to ban live animal exports gov.uk